Tallick Surname History

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Tallick

What does the name Tallick mean?

The proud Tallick family originated in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Tallick family originally lived in the Welsh county of Brecknockshire at Talach Ddu. 1

Early Origins of the Tallick family

The surname Tallick was first found in Cornwall. "A Cornish surname, found at Penryn and at St. Austell, and also at Norwich." 1

Early History of the Tallick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tallick research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tallick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tallick Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Tallack, Tallach, Tallick and others.

Early Notables of the Tallick family

More information is included under the topic Early Tallick Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tallick migration to Canada +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Tallick:

Tallick Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Phillip Tallick (Tallach), who settled in St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland, in 1703 2

Sources +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0